TOWN OF BLACKFALDS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING REQUEST FOR DECISION. Jennifer Hartigh, Economic Development Officer

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1 TOWN OF BLACKFALDS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING REQUEST FOR DECISION MEETING DATE: March 22, 2016 ORIGINATED BY: SUBJECT: Jennifer Hartigh, Economic Development Officer Business Walks Project BACKGROUND: Several business resource providers came together to 2015 to facilitate a sustainable economic climate and contribute to overall business sustainability and growth in the region. The Regional Business Network (RBN), comprised of participating Chambers of Commerce, Community Futures, Rural Alberta Business Centres, and municipal economic development and administration, aims to provide services that foster the region s economic sustainability and potential to expand. The RBN is proposing a Pilot Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) project for spring 2016 that involves site visits to businesses in the region. DISCUSSION: Goal 1 of the Town of Blackfalds Economic Development Business Plan is to create a dynamic and diverse business environment that supports and inspires an entrepreneurial climate. The recommended strategy for achieving this goal is the development of a business retention and expansion program beginning in Specific actions and tactics related to this strategy include a business visitation program that includes an annual business walk to gather data, identify needs, and provide assistance. Opting to take a regional approach to implementing the business walk aligns with several goals from the Municipal Sustainability Plan, including efficient use of financial and human resources and partnerships with other municipalities and levels of government. The municipality will support this initiative through provision of facilities for walker training and a home-based business forum and use of municipal communication channels to raise community awareness of the project. The dates for the walks will be finalized pending Council and RBN member availability. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Municipal contributions for participation in 2016 projects / initiatives outlined in the Economic Development Plan have already been included and approved in the 2016 operating budget. ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATION: That Council endorse the Regional Business Network Business Walks Project and participate on the walker teams should time and interest allow. ALTERNATIVES: A) That Council refer this item to Administration for further consideration. Attachments: Regional Business Network Business Walks Pilot Project Overview Approvals: CAO Myron Thompson Department Director/Author

2 REGIONAL BUSINESS NETWORK Business Walks Pilot Project Overview 2016 Supported by Regional Business Network

3 Regional Business Network (RBN) Business Walks Project Background: Several business resource providers came together to 2015 to facilitate a sustainable economic climate and contribute to overall business sustainability and growth in the region. The Regional Business Network (RBN), comprised of participating Chambers of Commerce, Community Futures, Rural Alberta Business Centres, and municipal economic development and administration, aims to provide services that foster the region s economic sustainability and potential to expand. The RBN is proposing a Pilot Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) project for spring 2016 that involves site visits to businesses in the region. The RBN will gather industry intelligence in order to develop retention & expansion initiatives that foster business growth. The communities/partners that have chosen to participate in the 2016 pilot business walk program are the Town of Blackfalds, the Village of Clive, and the Town of Rimbey. It is expected that the Business Walks will take place in mid-may (May 9 19), with extensive internal and external communication and promotion prior to these dates. The data collected will be compiled into reports for each participating community. The respective communities will present the findings to their stakeholders and the public at appropriate local events / forums throughout the summer and fall months of Why do a Business Walk? A Business Walk is an excellent opportunity to listen to the local business community and identify common themes for action while bringing together educational resources, municipal services and representatives of the business community. It allows visitation to numerous businesses in a short amount of time in order to gather industry intelligence to foster business growth. How will the Business Walk Work? The Business Walks will be organized by the RBN in partnership with municipal staff and service providers. Volunteer walkers (teams of Chamber and relevant Board members, civic leaders and business service providers) are assigned areas and will walk from business to business for approximately 3 hours. A central location for home-based business owners to come to will also be made available. Teams will ask basic conversationally structured questions such as: What products / services does your business provide? Is this your only business? How has business been? What is good about doing business here? What can be done to help your business thrive? Companies identified as most in need will receive follow up visits by relevant professionals to gather additional detail and to provide one on one support i.e. expansion plans, lay-offs, training, funding sources, diversification, etc. Objective: To identify successes and obstacles the local business communities face within the Central Alberta region and track that information over time. 1 P a g e

4 Rationale: The Business Walks provide an opportunity to connect with businesses face to face in an informal casual way while also generating the outputs mentioned below Increase awareness of services available to business in the region: Chamber(s), Community Futures, Rural Alberta Business Centres, municipal & economic development staff, etc. Outputs: Enables the RBN and participating partners to acquire a business pulse and communicate successes & obstacles in doing business in the region Allows chambers of commerce & service providers to identify value proposition for existing or new membership; increasing stakeholder support Provides RBN and participating partners the ability to track the business pulse over time, gauging the business climate and impacting program development & business climate messaging Contacts with business to identify those requiring follow up assistance. Intelligence to be used in future regional economic development planning RBN Partner Roles: Team creation & communications Identification of targeted communities and # of businesses Walker Roles: Conduit for communications developed by RBN Partners Day of Walk: 1/2 hour meeting Day of Walk: 3 hour walk that includes conversation with businesses If designated as a scribe, record responses on survey template created by RBN 2 P a g e

5 May 2016 Business Walks Blackfalds Date/Time afternoon(s) between May teams proposed Lead: Jen Hartigh, Blackfalds EDO Clive Date/ Time 1 afternoon between May team proposed Lead: Carla Kenny, CAO Rimbey Date/ Time - afternoon(s) May 11 or 12 1 or 2 teams proposed Lead: Jackie Stratton, Chamber Chair 3 Targeted Zones: Downtown, Hwy 2A, & Industrial Parks Targeted Zone(s): TBD Targeted Zone(s): TBD Walkers: EDTB members Mayor & Council Chamber members Michelle Andrishak, RABC Marg Phelan, CF EDO Walkers: Marg Phelan, CF EDO Jen Hartigh, Blackfalds EDO Walkers : Marg Phelan, CF EDO Jen Hartigh, Blackfalds EDO Michelle Andrishak, RABC 3 P a g e

6 Communications: Internal & External a. Pre & post event communications strategy developed by participating RBN partners b. Pre-event press releases, e-newsletters, social media channels & lead partner networks to be used as a conduit for communication to business community c. Post-event report with summary of findings to be made available to all participating RBN partners for release to community as determined by individual community (sample below) Messaging to be created by participating RBN partners

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7 2016 Business Walks Pilot Project RBN Feb Mar Apr May Jun D R A F T P R O J E C T A N N O U N C E M E N T P R E S S I N F O R M A T I O N D I S T R I B U T E A N N O U N CEMENT S RBN P R E S E N T A T I O N S T O S T A K E H O L D E R S W A L K E R S ½ H R O R I E N T A T I O N LET T HE PILOT BUSINES S WAL KS BEGIN P RESS R E LEASE/RE S U LTS T H A N K Y O U P O S T EV E N T MEE T I N G & C O M M U N I CA T I O N S P R E S S R E L E A S E EDA Con. Apr 6-8 Rimbey TS Apr Internal RBN project preparation RBN Project Management, initiate, create, present, implement, compile and Celebrate Communications - handouts & ; press releases through Partner Networks

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